UCLA linebacker Myles Jack races past learning curve

With less than 20 seconds on the clock, UCLA’s freshman linebacker stared at the green grass of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. He had just picked off Utah quarterback Travis Wilson, reeling in a misplaced ball and racing downfield past the opposing black jerseys.

But he heard someone telling him to fall down, allowing the Bruins’ a chance to run the clock and seal the 34-27 win.

“Coach Mora’s voice could break through anybody’s focus,” Jack said.

Jim Mora has known Jack since the Bellevue High grad was 12 years old. Since then, the UCLA head coach has only seen the four-star prospect blossom.

Take that interception, for example. Coming out of Bellevue High, recruiting websites gave pointed to pass coverage as one of Jack’s weaknesses. Four games into his college career, he’s tied for second in the Pac-12 with seven passes defended.

“He has some rare gifts,” Mora said. “He really does.”

Jack’s cover ability comes from less than a year of work. Through high school, he was primarily a rusher, using his 200-plus pound frame to knock down opponents. It wasn’t until he was picked for January’s Army All-American Bowl that he decided to work on defending the back end.

He knew that blitzing wasn’t allowed in the upcoming event, so he worked on pass coverage with the help of teammate Budda Baker and step-brother Stanton Truitt. The former is a four-star safety currently chased by UCLA; the latter is a four-star Auburn commit.

“They’re way faster than me,” Jack said. “In the beginning, it was terrible. They were killing me. ... I had to learn quick, especially going against those two guys.”

He continued building on what he’d learned over the summer, arriving at UCLA as one of its most multi-faceted weapons.

Already a starting outside linebacker opposite All-American Anthony Barr, Jack could see time on offense before the season ends. His athleticism was so impressive that coaches even tried him as a kick returner in practice.

“For a man that big to move as quickly and compactly as he does, what really sets him apart even more is his ball skills,” Mora said. “He cuffs the ball. You see it out here every day. He makes amazing catches. The ball he caught Thursday night was behind him, and he caught it like it was nothing.”

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Asked what his biggest weakness is, Jack demurred. He didn’t want to call it a “weakness,” but the freshman is looking to become more consistent. Already impressive for bone-rattling hits and timely plays, Jack feels like he has more to bring on every down.

“I feel like I’m just kind of flashing.”

MCCARTHY QUESTIONABLE

Defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy is questionable for Saturday’s game against Cal with a head injury. The starting left end took a blow late during UCLA’s 34-27 win at Utah last week, and was absent from the Bruins’ Monday and Tuesday practices.

If the sophomore isn’t cleared to play this weekend, most of his snaps will go to freshmen Eddie Vanderdoes and Kylie Fitts. Fitts, a four-star recruit, only took one snap in Salt Lake City because his team used a lot of nickel packages.

‘IRONMAN’ WILLIS

Little-used on the defensive line, junior Brandon Willis decided to ask coaches for a chance to play somewhere else. This week, UCLA started using him as an offensive guard, sliding his 6-foot-1, 275-pound frame into a unit that lost starting left tackle Torian White to a broken ankle.

Willis’ real-game snaps will likely come on defense, but he adds depth to the offensive line in practice and could be used there in late-game or emergency situations.

“It was his idea to go over there and give it a shot,” Mora said. “He could be a two-way player for us. … He’s our Ironman.”